Printing press



Feb. 2, 1937. P. F. cox- PRINTING PRESS Filed July 2, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb.2,1937. P. FJCQX Y 2,069,520 PRINTING PRESS l y Filed July 2, 195.2 s Sheats-sneet 2 Eig-2 lNvENT R 5 2.a/ o g B 20 ATTORNEY -gFe b. 2, 1937./ P. F. cox y 2,069,520

PRINTING PRESS i F'i'led July 2, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1937. P. F. cox

' PRINTING PRESS Filed July 2, 19:52

8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 2; 1937. P. F., cox 2,()619,5512@` I r I l PRINTING PRESS Filed July y2, 1952 a sheets-shee'j5-- Feb. z, 1937. P. cox

PRINTING PRESS Filed July'z, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 2, 1937. P. F. cox

' PRINTING PRESS Filed July 2, i932 8 Sheets-Sheet 'T E WT A Fb.` 2, 1937. P. F. cox 2,069,520

PRINTING PRESS Filed July 2, 1952 8 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR TTG@ Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STAT PRINTING PRESS poration of Illinois Application July 2, 1932, Serial No. 620,580

27 Claims.

The present invention relates to printing presses and more particularly to a novel and improved bed and cylinder printing press and folder therefor.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a typical embodiment of the present invention, and in these drawings, the details of many of the conventional parts and elements have been omitted for the sake of clearness. Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section, taken longitudinally of the present embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing one path of the web in passing through the press;

Fig. 3 is a similar diagrammatic View showing an alternative path for the web in passing through the press;

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary side elevation of the rewinding and web roll storing mechamsm;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, sectional view illustrating the operation of the embodiment and showing the association of two previously printed webs with athird web being printed and delivered by the press;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the web tension controlling mechanism for maintaining the web tension substantially constant;

Fig. '7 is a plan of the parts illustrated in y Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation, with certain parts bro-ken away, of an equalizing mechanism in accordance with the present invention for rendering constant the speed at which the web is fed to a bed and cylinder press from the web roll and delivered from the p-ress;

Fig, 9 is a diagrammatic, vertical and longitudinal section illustrating the position of the parts during the removal or positioning of plates on the press bed;

Fig. 10 is a detailed side elevation of a feeding um Figure 12 is a Vplan View ofthe mechanism g` shown in Figure ll. Y Y

The present invention has for some of its principal objects the provision of a novel and improved bed and cylinder printing press for printing a web of paper in multi-color or alternatively for perfecting a web of paper; the provision of a novel and improved bed and cylinder printing press for the alternative production of an unusually large variety of products; the provision of an improved bed and cylinder printing press of simplified construction, permitting easy access to all parts thereof; and, the provision of a novel and improved folding mechanism.

Further objects of the invention are the provision of an improved web tension controlling mechanism for bed yand cylinder printing presses, improved means for maintaining the speed of the web roll and delivery constant as the web is passed through a bed and cylinder press, an improved means for rewinding the printed web as it is delivered by the press, a novel inking mechanism which is simple, inexpensive and easily adjusted, the provision of a press of relatively small and inexpensive construction'capable of producing a relatively large product. Still another object is the provision cf a combined printing press and folding mechanism with means for driving the printing press or folder either separately or conjointly.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a web roll of paper to be printed is supported at one side of one end of the press and means are provided for maintaining the tension of the web substantially constant as it is fed from the web roll to the press. The printing press comprises a bed and cylinder press having a bed approximately twice the width of the web to be printed, and over which the web passes first in one direction and then in the opposite direction parallel to its first run.

The impression cylinder is likewise of a width approximately twice that of the web and is bodily moved in timed relation with the operation of thel press to roll back and forth, pressing the web into contact with the printing forms supported on the bed as it moves in one direction and then moving back idly over the web to its initial position, thereby forming a complete impression ofthe two halves of the bed upon their respective runs of the webduring each reciprocation of permitting the web to be alternatively perfected or printed in two colors through the press.

The inking mechanism comprises a trough formed integrally with the bed and in which a fountain roller is Vrotatably mounted adapted to contact with a plurality of transferring, distributing and form inking rollers' above the bed and operatively coupled with the impression cylin- Vduring a single passage der reciprocating mechanism for movement therewith. Meansl are also provided for vibrating certain of theseV rollers and for freeing the rollers from each otherY to prevent deformation ofthe rollers while the press is idle, and so that they may be individually rotatedand are easily accessible for cleaning or other purposes. The inking mechanism is preferably separably connected lwith the impression cylinder so that the Yrollers and impression cylinder may be spaced from each other for the easy removal or positioning of forms on the bed. Y

As the web passes through the press, it is periodically brought to rest `and held stationary during the actual time of printing while it is in contact with the form on thebed, and means are provided for alternately paying out and taking up slack in the web both between the web roll and form and between the form and. delivery mechanism. This web equalizing mechanism, as embodied, comprises a single roller mounted in I oscillatable arms and over which the web vis looped on both its runs and means are pro-vided for oscillating said arms in timed relation to the operation of the press.

Thevweb, either printed in multi-color or perfectedmay be cutV into sheets and fed to the folding mechanism, or alternatively, the printed or perfected Web may be fed to a rewinding mechanism Ywithout cutting. The printed web may also be slit and one portion cut into sheets while the other portion is rewound into a roll. The

rewinding mechanism rewinds the printed or perfected web into a web roll and the full rewound rolls may be rotatably mounted in a Vsupporting frame, detachably mounted above the means Y 'web may be associated with a previously printed bed of the press. Y g

Means are provided for storing and rotatably supporting one or a pluralityof rewound printed or perfected web rolls, and the printed or perfected webs from these new wound rolls may vrthereafter be fed to the cutting means where they may be associated with a newlyprinted web as ,it is delivered from the pressto-the cutting By this mechanism, the newly printed or perfected, and rewound web and the associated webs are simultaneously cut in register `and then forwarded to-the folding mechanism to form single products, each composed of sheets cut from the plurality of webs. In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, thefolding mechanism comprises three successive folding devices. or units,

each comprising a pair of folding rollers and. a cooperating blade to tuck the sheets to be folded between the folding rollers along the line of fold. f

The rst pair of folding rollers and cooperating blade preferably extends substantially longitudinally and centrally of the web, being adapted to fold the cut sheet or associated sheets as they and from the folding rollers as Ythe sheets are passed through the folding mechanism, and stops Y are provided'for properly registering the sheets to insure proper positioning of theline of fold.

Guiding means are provided between the first and f second and between the second and third folding units, and that between the second and third is preferably formed with a switch by which the twice-folded sheets may Ybe delivered without further folding. The stops for the first and second foldingrunit are ralso preferably removable so that the sheets may be delivered either without foiding Vor with only a single fold.

Feed boards are provided adjacent to the feed- Y ing-in position for the first and second folding units and adjacent to the rst folding blade so that one full and/or one or two half size sheets may be manually or automatically fed as inserts and thereafter folded in with the sheets being cutY and delivered from the press. Conveyor and stacker mechanisms are also provided for receiving the folded products as theyare delivered from the folding mechanism. 'As embodied, all of the folding blades are actuated by means'of a single set of cams driven from the press-driving unit, and these operate in timed relation to the operation of the press.

Means are provided for driving the printing Y press and folding mechanism from a single motor through variable speed gearing vunder control of'a power clutch so that thepress and folder may be connected and disconnected from the driving unit at the will of the operator. Means are also provided for selectively silencing the press and also the folder so that either the press or folder may be driven Without driving the other. y Y I It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictivethereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the present invention as shown by the accompanying drawings, means are provided for rotatably supporting a web roll of paper from which the web to be printed is unwound and fed to the press. As embodiedV (Figs. 6 and 7) a pair of frame members 2i! and 2i extend from one end of the press and are formed with suitable journals 22' to receive the web roll shaft 23 and freely support web roll 24 thereby. Collars 25 are provided near the ends of the shaft and closely adjacent to frames V2li for maintaining correct side register of the web by limiting the endvvise movement of shaft 23. n

The web tension control means, for maintaining the tension of the web substantially constant as it is fed to the printing press comprises aV pilot roller moved by changes in the tension of the web as it is drawn from the web roll, and cooperating braking members actuated by the pilot roll. As embodied, pilot roller 3B is freely rotatable in arms 3|, 3l', which are secured to and pivo-tally mounted by a shaft 32 extending between and journalled in supporting frames 20, 2i. Ihe web W is looped over roller 3i] intermediate the web roll and a freely rotatable guide roller 33 journalled at its ends in frames 20, 2l.

One or both of the pilot roller supporting arms 3l, 3l', is formed with an extension 34 upon which is slidably mounted a weight 35, which may be moved toward and from shaft 32 to vary the force applied to roller 30 and tending to enlarge the loop in the web. Weight 35 is secured in the desired position by set screw projecting through weight 35 and into contact with extension 34.

At one of its ends, web roll supporting shaft 23 is provided with a brake drum 38, fast on said shaft and cooperating with an arcuate brake shoe 39 pivctally mounted on stub shaft lid projecting outwardly from frame member 2i, A relatively long lever lli, also pivoted on shaft lis, serves to transmit the movements of pilot roller Sil to the arcuate brake shoe 39. Lever di is provided with a flat face 2 on its Linder side and near one end adapted to contact with a pin 43 extending from the end of and positioned eccentrically with respect to shaft 32. At its pivoted end, lever il is provided with a downwardly extending portion li5 to contact with the end of a threaded member 46 threaded into a downwardly-extending portion il of the arcuate brake shoe 35.

Threaded member 56 is provided with a hand wheel d8 by which it may be turned to vary the relative position of brake sioe 33 and lever fil. A spring 48 is tensioned between lever '-ii and a lug 59 on frame 2i and serves to maintain the flat surface 42 of lever il in contact with ec` centric pin 43.

When the tension of the web W, as it Vis fed to the press from the web roll, is increased, roller 36 is raised against the pressure of weight 35 and spring 43, thereby lifting lever l and decreasing the pressure between the braking elements 38 and 39. Similarly, a decrease in the web tension permits the pilot roller 3U to be lowered and the weight of lever 4i, combined with spring tension exerted by spring e9, increases the braking pressure between the braking elements.

In actual operation, the pilot roller 3! is balanced against the web tension at such a point that the web tension is maintained substantially constant, while the web tension may be increased or diminished by movement of weight 35 on extension 3Q and also by varying the relative position of shoe 39 and lever Iii, although threaded member 45 is used principally to compensate for wear of the brake shoe.

As embodied, the bed and cylinder printing press of the present invention comprises a horizontal bed adapted to support two side-by-side forms, each approximately the full width of the web to be printed, and an impression cylinder adapted to be rolled back and forth o-ver the forms and to press the web into impression con-v tact therewith. The bed comprises a at, horizontal casting E@ supported between the side frames of the press 6i and provided with a pair of spaced apart transversely-extending raised lips 52 between which the two Vchases 63 containing forms Sii may be locked by means Vof furniture and quoins (not shown). The upper face of bed 6B is planed at over that portion to receive the chases 63. One of forms 64 comprises the matter to be printed on one side, while the other form may be for the other side or a second color for the rst side of the web.

The impression cylinder comprises a rigid cylindrical member 'i0 of a length slightly in excess of twice the width of the web to be printed and provided with the usual packing. Impression cylinder 'id is rotatably mounted at each end of its shaft il by eccentrics i2 which are partially rotatable in side frames 'i3 of the impression cylinder carriage. Cylinder 'i6 has its axis parallel to the plane of bed @il and is adapted to be moved toward and away from the bed 60 and forms @t for its printing and non-printing movement over the bed.

The impression cylinder carriage o-n its lower portion is provided with guides to cooperate with the upper and lower guideways I5 on each side of the bed to hold the carriage against vertical and transverse movement as the carriage is moved back and forth over the bed. Guides 'l5 are preferably formed integral with the side frames 5| and extend parallel to each other and to the plane of bed Bil.

' Means are provided for rotating impression cylinder l@ as it is rolled back and forth over the form-supporting bed and for this purpose is provided with gears 8 at its ends which mesh with racks 'i9 extending parallel to guideways 'l5 ICS and along the sides of the bed. Means are provided for reciprocating the impression cylinder carriage and, as embodied,l a gear 86 and fly wheel 8l, on opposite sides of the press, are rotatably mounted by means of shaft 82, journaled in the side frames El, with both said gear and y wheel keyed to said shaft. Both sides of the impression cylinder carriage are operatively connected with said gear and fly Vwheel by means of pitmans B, connected between crank pins 85 and pins B6 at the sides of the impression cylinder carriage. As gear 80 and fly wheel 8l rotate, the sliding carriage 88, supporting the impression cylinder, is reciprocated back and forth throughout the length of the forms supported on theV bed. l

Means are provided for raising and lowering the impression cylinder into and out of contact with the forms. For this purpose eccentrics` l2, at each end of the impression cylinder, are oscillated in timed relation with the reciprocation of the carriage, so that the impression` cylinder is lowered to press the web of paper into printing contact with the form as the carriage and imression cylinder are moved towards the shaft 82 and to raise the impression cylinder out of Contact with the form on the return stroke ofl Ythe connecting portion 9'! are of uniform width,

approximately equal to the diameter of cam roller Si.

Y With pitman 8d at the end of its stroke, the parts are in the position shown in Figure 9 of the drawings. 'Rotation of the driving'gear and Y y wheel elevates the pitman 84 and movesr cams 90 to a position where the cam rollers 9| are within portions 96 of the cam slo-ts. ThisI movement lowers the impression cylinder into printing position and holds it in that position until cam roller 9| is moved to the connecting portion 91 0f the cam slot at the other end of the pitman stroke. On the return movement of the carriage roller 9| rides in the outer concentric portion 95 of the cam slot and maintains the impression cylinder out of printing contact with the web, but not sufficiently out of contact Yto disengage gear 18 and its driving rack 19.

The impression cylinder carriage is preferably formed in two separable portions, one of which carries the impression cylinder, as just described, while the other carries the inking mechanism. This second portion of the carriage |00, carrying the inking'mechanism, is preferably formed as a Continuation of the` carriage 88. Carriage |00 is provided with guides, shaped similarly to those of carriage 88and cooperating with guideways 15. The abutting `machined portions of the parts 88and |00 are held together by means of bolt |02, threaded into head 88 and held against unscrewing by pin |03. Bolt 02 passes through the carriage portion |00 and holds it by nut |04. By removing nut |64, the carriage portion 88 may be moved independently of the'portion |00 and they may be separated and spaced apart as shown in Figure 12. In this position, the operator has full access to the bed 66 and the chases 63 supported thereon, thereby facilitating the positioning or removal of the forms, or their correction.

Means are provided for guiding the web from the Web roll through the press in two side-byside, oppositely directed runs and with either side of the web adjacent to the form on its second passage through the press, and from the press to` the delivery mechanism.

As embodied, the web W is fed from the Web roll 24 to guide roller 33,'being looped around a small cylinder |66 of awidth substantially the same as thatof the web and fixed on the shaft 82, and is held against cylinder by means of feeding tapes 16|. After guide roller 33 the web passes between the feeding cylinder |66 and feedingtapes |6| and thence over guide roller |62 to guide roller |68, and is looped around an equalizing roller |64, which will be described more in detail. The web then passes over guide roller |66, under impression 'cylinder 18, and then. over a guide roller .|61 also freely rotatable and supported on a forwardly-projecting arm |68 on carriage 68. Y

Web turning and guiding means are provided at the end of the press for turning and guiding of turner bars 10, I1! vare mounted on the press secured in a position parallel to bar |1I.

frame and cooperate with a guide roller |12 to transfer the web to this side-by-side position. The turner bar |16 is reversably positioned at the end of the press frame and may be moved to a position at right angles to bar |1|, or may be The guide roller |14 isrotatably mounted in the press frame at one end of the press and olosely'adjacent to turner bar |16 and extends parallel Yto the run of the web. When it is Ydesired to perfect the web, roller |14 need not be employed and turner bar |10 is positioned parallelto bar |1I.

With the parts in this position, `andas shown by Figure 2, the web is'rst passed through the press 'and printed on one side, and is again passed most or away from the form. When it is desired to print in two colors on the web with one of forms 64 carrying the matter for one color, While the other form carries the matter for the other color, the web is passed over turner bar |10, positioned at right angles to turner bar |1|, is run over guide roller |14 then turner bar |1| and guide .roller |12, placing the once printed side of the web on the under side or adjacent to the form.

After passing roller guide roller |12, the printed and turned web passes over guide |16 to guide roller |61, under impression cylinder 10, over guide roller |66 and to guide roller |18 after looping around equalizing roller |64. After rollerv |18, the web may be led either to the rewinding mechanism or to the cutting, folding and delivering mechanism. i Y

` Guide rollers |63, |65, |66 and |61 extend across the entire Width of the press or slightly more than twice the Width of a single web, and are each divided into longitudinalhalves which may be reversely rotated. Roller |62 need extendV only one half the width of the press and. is positioned on Vthe side of the unprinted web, While rollers |12, |16 and |18, also of single web width,

, are positioned on the delivery side or the return are provided for taking up the slack in and pay- Y -ing Vout an accumulated surplus Vin the Web duris delivered to the delivery mechanism may remain constant.

Y As embodied, means are provided between the web roll and impression cylinder and betweenY the impression cylinder and the delivery and folding cylinder for concomitantlytaking up slack in the web at one of these points and dissipating the slack at the other, and vice versa. Equalizing roller |64 is freely rotatably. journalled in arms which are oscillatably'mounted at the ends of the roller and the sides of the press by means of shaft |8| rotatably'journalled in the side frames 6|. A spring |82 coiled about shaft |8| and having one of its ends fastened to said shaft and the other fastened to the frame is provided for moving the arms |80 and ,roller |64 forwardly of the press, while cam means are provided for controlling the motion of this roller in timed relation with the operation of the press. Cam |84 is rotatably mounted on shaft |85, to which it is keyed and is driven by gear |86 meshing with gear |81 on the main shaft82. roller |88, rotatably mounted at the end of link |89, is adapted to contact with the periphery of The camk cam |84. Link |89 is form-ed with a slotted yoke,

fitted over shaft by which the link is supported, and at its other end, link |89 is pivotally connected with arm |80 by means of pivot pin |90.

The action o f 4cam |84, and roller |64 bodily moved`thereby, is to provide a surplus of web which is gradually payed out as the web is stopped during printing, continuing this paying out and at the same time taking up the slank in the twice printed'web, and then during the idle stroke of the impression cylinder to gradually pay out the accumulated surplus in the unprinted web while the slack is being taken up in the twice printed web. By properly designing the shape of cam |84 with reference to the time of impression, the `web speed and the position and size of the various parts, the speed of the web being fed from the web roll and being delivered to the cutting and folding mechanism may be rendered constant, notwithstanding the fact that the web is completely stopped at points overr the form in bothV its runs and at the turning bars.

As the printed web is delivered from the point of impression over guide roller |66, equalizer roller |64 and guide roller |18, it is fed alternatively to the web rewinding mechanism or the cutting and folding mechanism, and optionally operable slitting means are provided for permitting one longitudinal half or portion of the web to be rewound while the other longitudinal half is cut and folded. A slitting disc |92 is provided adjacent to guide roller |18 and cooperates therewith to slit the web when this is desired.

As embodied, the rewinding mechanism comprises a pair of closely adjacent and parallel rollers 200, rotatable in suitable journals formed in the detachable frame members 20| and 202, positioned above the main shaft 82, and securely fastened to the side frames of theV press. Rollers 200 are driven by suitable gearing from cylinder 2I2. A series of belts 203 are mounted adjacent to one of the rollers 200 and are driven at web speed by the press, While the printed web passes from guide roller |18 over guide roller 204 and is fed along and pressed into Contact with roller 200 by means of belts 203. The leading end of this web W is attached to a core supported on rollers 200 and the web is rewound to form a roll.

A vertical slot 206 is provided between the frame members 20| and 202, at each side of the press, and a web roll shaft, projecting through the axis of the rewinding roll 20B, may project through these slots to steady the roll.

Figure 5 of the drawings illustrates the printed web being fed to the cutting cylinder and folded. As shown, the web is led from guide roller |18 to guide roller 2|0 from which it is passed into contact with cutting cylinders 2|2 and pressed thereagainst by driven belts 2|3. Cutting cylinder 2|2 cooperates with a cutting cylinder 2| 4 fixed on main shaft 82, one of said cylinders being provided with a cutting knife while the other is provided with a cutting block. Cylinders 2|2, 2I4 and |60 are preferably of a circumference equal to a single page length cylinders |60 and 2|4 being both fixed on shaft 82 and rotating together. The web passes between cylinders 2| 2 and 2|4, each of approximately the sam-e width as the web, and is thereby cut into sheet lengths to form one sheet at each revolution of the cylinder. The sheets delivered from between cylinders 2|2 and 2M are fed between stationary guides 2|6, 2|1 which direct the sheets between press driven tapes 2|8, 2|9, preferably driven at web speed, which tapes convey the sheets to the folding mechanism, as will later be described in detail.

When slitter |92 is employed, one half of the printed web is directed along the path shown in Figure 1 to the rewinding mechanism, while the other half is directed along the path shown in Figure 5 to the cutting and folding mechanism.

Means are provided for storing a plurality of printed and rewound web rolls so that the printer may print a plurality of webs each with different forms, and later associate these webs to form a product comprising sheets from a plurality of webs. As embodied, a supplementary frame is provided above the press and comprises a pair of generally triangular frame members 220, one at each side of the press, and supported on frames 202. 202 and 220 form together a pair of substantially horizontal tracks, one at each side of the press,

extending on both sides of vertical slot 206.

At the ends of these tracks are provided depressed, open-top journals to receive the web rolls shafts for the rewound rolls and thereby rotatably support the rewound rolls so that the previously printed and rewound webs may be fed to the cutting and folding mechanism and be associated with the web being printed. As embodied, tracks 222 extend horizontally for a distance slightly greater than the diameter of Aa web roll and are adapted to receive web roll shafts in the open journals 223 and 224 at each end of the web roll.

Means are also provided for lifting the completely rewound web roll off fromV rollers 200 'and on to tracks 222 and for this purpose, pulleys 226, at each end of the web roll, are rotatably mounted on the upper portion of frames 20|. Cables 221 pass over said pulleys and at one end, each is provided with a. hook 228 adapted to hang in line with slot 20S. The other end of each cable is connected to a drum 229 rotatably journalled on a shaft in frame 20| and extending transversely between the frames, and may be rotated, to wind or unwind the cables, by means of worm 230 connected to handle 23|V and also rotatably-journalled in one of the frame members 20|. As soon as the web roll has been fully rewound, the hooks 220 are fitted over the web roll shaft at their respective ends of the web roll, handle 23| is rotated to raise the roll to the level of tracks 222 and the roll may then be swung to the left or right (Fig. 4) and then rolled to the corresponding end of the track.

Web tension means are provided for tensioning the previously printed webs as they are fed from the rewound web rolls to be associated with the webs being printed. For this purpose, the web roll shafts are provided with brake drums 234, fast with respect to their respective web rolls, and cooperating with a brake shoe 235 p-ivotally mounted on the frame member 20| or 220. Each brake shoe arm is provided with an extension 236, notched to receive and support a weight 231 which may be moved toward and from the brake shoe pivot to vary the pressure between the brake shoe and drum.

Figure 5 of the drawings illustrates the operation of the mechanism with a printed web being associated with a plurality of previously printed and rewound webs 200. In such a run, the web being printed is fed directly from guide roller |18 to guide roller 2 0 and thence to the cutting cylinders 2|2, 2| 11 and folding mechanism. The Web from one or more rewound rolls 208 is led over guide roller 204 and is fed along by tapes 203 to guide roller 2 0 Where the rewound webs are associated with the web being printed. The associated webs are fed between cutting cylinders 2|2, 2M and the sheets cut from the associated webs are fed between guides 2|6, 2|1 to a position between tapes 2|8 and 2|0 which forward them to the folder. l

Any of the webs may be printed in two colors or may be perfected in one color, and ,any of these webs may be a full or partialV Width web,

The upper portions of frames 20|,

with the result that an exceedingly wide variety'of products may be produced by various combinations of these factors.

Referring now in detail to the present embodiment of the folding mechanism as illustrated in Figures i3 to 20 of the drawings, the folding mechanism as a whole is positioned at the delivery end of the printing press and to one side of the web roll, and is provided with guides 250 mounted on the folding mechanism and between which the cut sheets are fed from the press by delivery The folding mechanism comprises three oscillating blade folders, each successive folder being disposed at right angles to the preceding folder', and means are provided whereby manually fed insets or onsets may be fed to the folder so as to befolded with the printed sheet. The rst folder includes rollers 252, blade v250 and feeding tapes 290 and 29| driven by pulleys 292 and 295. The second folder includes blade 218 on arm 219 and shaft 280 and rollers 219 and 21|. The third folder includes rollers 280, blade 295, tapes 398 and 309 driven by pulleys 350 and 3|! and guides 358, 3 9 and 33 Guide 3 9 is removable so that twice folded sheets may be delivered directly to belts 325 or may be stacked in stacker 333. Additional full sheets may be fed from feed board 34|, and other insets or onsets may be fed to any of the folding devices. Folding rollers 252, 210, 21|, 280, blades 20, 218 and 285, and tapes 290, 29|, 308 and 309 are all driven from the press driving motor through chain 426.

The main folder driving shaft 355 is `driven from the driving unit, as will be later described,

Vand shaft 355 carries a series of cams by which the several folding blades, delivery belts and stacker are operated.

g As embodied, the driving mechanism for alternatively or conjointly driving the printing press and folding mechanism comprises a driving electric motor 400 slidably mounted upon its base plate 405 and movable therealong by means of a threaded member 402 secured to the base 40| against axial movement and cooperating with a threaded aperture on the lower portion of the motor 400.

On the motor shaft 404 is mounted a V-pulley 405, of conventional construction and variable effective diameter, to drive the free wheel 406 of clutch 451 through the V-belt 490. By varying the distance between the two conical members of pulleyY 405 and by variaby positioning the motor 400 on its base, the driving ratio and the speed of wheel405 may be varied to vary the speed of operation of the press.

- 'Wheel 406 is freely rotatable on shaft 4 0 whichV is rotatably journalled in floor brackets 4|| and may be placed in driving relation thereto by means of clutch 451. Shaft 4|!) is provided with a longitudinally slidable pinion 4|2, held in the desired position by set screw M3 in mesh with gear 4M pinned to shaft 4|5 which shaft is rotatably journalled in frame 5| and journal bracket M6. Shaft 4|5 also carries a pinion 4|? meshing with bull gear 96) on shaft 82.

vAt its other end shaft 4|0 carries a longitudinally slidable pinion 420, slidably keyed to said shaft and held in desired axial position by set screw 42| and meshing with gear 422 rotatably mounted by shaft 423 which is journalled in floor brackets 424. Shaft 23 also carries sprocket 425 which drives `flexible chain 425 running over sprockets 425 and the main folder driving sprocket 421 on the folder main shaft 355.

kThe clutch-operating means comprises a hand lever 430 pivotally mounted between brackets 43| at one side'of the press and connected with rod 433 slidable in the side frame 6|. Rod 433 is connected with shipper lever 434 by means of pin and slot connection 435, and lever 434 is also connected with the clutch collar by pin and slot connection 435. Shipper lever 434 is pivoted atV 438 and in mesh with pinion 4|4, but pinion 420 is slidy out of engagement with gear 422. Similarly, when it is desired to drive the folder, without driving the press, as in folding a rewoundk web or operating the folder as a job folder, the pinion 420 is placed in mesh with gear 422 and pinion 4|2 is slid out of mesh with gear 4|4. With either `of these optional drives, the operationof the clutch remains the same and by movement Aof lever 43|!` the press or folder maybe driven from motor 400 or quickly stopped by the application of pressure between brake members 439, 440.

As will be understood from the foregoing description, the present invention provides a combined bed and cylinder printing press and folder, having unusual flexibility, by which a very wide range of sizes of products may be produced. As

an illustration of the extremely wide range of products which may be produced by the present embodiment, it being understood that this illustration is in no wise restrictive of the invention, it may be said that the products may comprise a minimum of one-half full-size sheets each, or four pages of a thrice-folded sheet and may be increased in size by small increments to the maximum product of 80 pages with thrice folded sheets.

More in detail, the unfolded product may comprise a half sheet, a. full size sheet, one and a half, two, two and a half or three sheets, any or all of which may be perfected, multi-color or perfected in different colors. This product maybe delivered unfolded or folded, if desired,'once, twice or three times and may be increased in size, if desired, by the addition of one full sheet and/or one or two half size sheets, as inserts. These inserts, of course, may be printed in any desired manner. That is, the product as delivered from the press may comprise: Two to eight pages of full sheet size, with a two page minimum increment in the size of the product. Two to twenty pages of half sheet size with a two page minimum incre-l ment in the size of the product. Four to forty pages of quarter sheet size with a four page Vminimum increment in the size of the product.

Eight to eighty pages of eighth sheet size with aneight page minimum in'crement in the size of the product. In any of said products, any of the sheets cut from the web may be multi-color, perfected, or perfected in different colors, and the inserts may be printed in any desired manner.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages. I v I What I claim isz- 1. In a web fed printing press, a web feeding cylinder and a web cutting cylinder, said cylinders being of equal diameter and mounted on a single shaft, and means for directing two web reaches to said cylinders whereby one reach is forwarded and the other reach is cut into sheets.

2. In a web fed printing press, a web feeding cylinder and a web cutting cylinder, said cylinders being of equal diameter, closely adjacent to each other and axially alined, and means for directing two web reaches to said cylinders whereby one reach is forwarded and the other reach is cut into sheets. f

3. In a printing press, the combination of means for rotatably supporting a rewound web roll, means for rewinding a printed web into a roll and means for transferring the rewound roll from rewinding to feeding position to permit the winding of a second printed web roll by said rewinding means.

4. In a printing press, the combination of means for rotatably supporting a rewound web roll in feeding position, means for rewinding a printed web into a roll, said rewinding and supporting means being positionally related to each other so that the rewinding and feeding positions of a full roll are substantially the same and means for transferring the rewound roll from rewinding to feeding position.

5. In combination, a web fed printing press, means for longitudinally slitting the web as it is delivered from the press, means for cutting one portion of the web into sheets and means for rewinding another portion of said web, a folder and means for forwarding the cut sheets thereto.

6` In combination, a web fed printing press, means for longitudinally slitting the web as it is delivered from the press, means for cutting the web into sheets, means for optionally rewinding a portion of the web, means for rotatably supporting the rewound web roll and means for guiding the rewound web to the cutting means, a folder and means for forwarding the cut sheets thereto.

7. In combination, a web fed printing press, means for longitudinally slitting the web as it is delivered from the press, means for cutting the web into sheets, alternatively operable means for rewinding a half web or a full Width web and means for rotatably supporting the rewound web roll and guiding means for guiding the rewound web to the cutting means. A

8. In a web printing press, the combination of means for printing a web, means for cutting the web into sheets, means for alternatively rewinding the web, means for rotatably supporting the rewound web roll, means for associating the rewound web with a second web being printed in advance of the cutting means, means for folding the associated sheets cut from said webs and feeding means for insetting a sheet prior to folding.

9. In a web fed printing press, the combination of a form supporting bed and impression cylinder, means for guiding the web between said bed and cylinder in opposite directions in side-by-side runs to twice print the web, a bodily movable roller around which the unprinted and twice printed web is looped and press-driven cam means for bodily moving said roller.

10. In a web fed bed and cylinder printing press, the combination of a web roll support, sheet delivery means at the side of said support, web turning means between which and the support and delivery means the bed and cylinder are positioned, a roller extending transversely of the web and around which the printed and unprinted runs of the web are looped and press-driven cam means for bodily moving said roller.

1l. A printing press including in combination a form-supporting bed and cooperating inking and impression members, a web supply means and cutting means at one end of and close to the bed for cutting the web into unfolded sheets, and web turning means at the other end of the bed.

12. In a printing press, the combination of a form supporting bed and impression member, means for guiding the web between said bed and member in opposite directions to print the web twice and a bodily movable roller around which the unprinted and twice printed web is looped.

13. In a. printing press, the combination of a form supporting bed and impression member, means for guiding the web between said bed and member in opposite directions to print the web twice and a bodily movable roller around which the web is twice looped, once on the unprinted portion and once on the twice printed portion, said loops opening away from the roller in different directions.

14. In a printing press, the combination of a form supporting bed and impression member, means for guiding the web between said bed and member in opposite directions to print the web twice and a bodily movable roller mounted in oscillatable arms and around which roller the web is twice looped, once on the unprinted portion and once on the twice printed portion, said loops opening away from the roller in different directions.

15. In combination, a stationary bed and traveling cylinder web perfecting press, a cut sheet folding machine, and means for assembling and inserting a previously printed sheet with the product being produced by the press while said press and folder are working in unison.

16. In combination, a stationary bed and tra-veling cylinder web perfecting press, a cut sheet folding machine, means for assembling and inserting a previously printed sheet with the product being produced by the press and means for delivering the assembled product flat or folded'.

17. A flat bed web perfecting press in combination with a device for severing a web into sheets and a hand fed cut sheet folding machine, means for rewinding a web in the press after being printed and means for feeding a web to the severing device to be cut in sheets and delivered to the folding machine and means whereby a sheet can be manually fed into association with a sheet cut from the web to be folded and delivered as one product.

18. A bed and cylinder printing press including in combination a double width bed and cylinder having two side by side forms, inking mechanism, a web supply and means for feeding a web in both directions and over both forms to perfect the web, web rewinding means and sheet cutting means receiving the web from the perfecting half of the bed and a slitter for slitting the perfected web and means for optionally directing a half web to the rewinding means and the other half to the sheet cutter.

19. A bed and cylinder printing press including in combination a double width bed and cylinder having two side by side forms, a web supply and means for feeding a web in both directions and over both forms to perfect the web, rotary means coacting with the incoming web to feed it toward the bed and having sheet cutting means for cutting sheets from theperfected form coming from the bed.

20. A bed and cylinder printing press including in combination a double width bed and cylinder having two side by side forms to perfect the web, a web supply and means for feeding a web in both directions and over both forms, web rewinding means and sheet cutting means substantially inline with the perfecting bed, and means for optionally directing the printed web either to the rewinding means or direct to the sheet `cutting means.

21. A bed and cylinder printing press including in combination a perfecting bed and cylinder, inking mechanism, a web supply and means for feeding the web through the printing mechanism, sheet cutting means lclosely adjacent the perfecting end of the printing mechanism and receiving the web directly therefrom, Web rewinding means adjacent thereto, means for moving a rewound web to unwinding position, and means for associating the 'rewound web with aV newly printed web and feeding the associated Webs `directly to said cutting means.

22. A bed and cylinder printing press including in combination a perfecting bed and cylinder, inking mechanism, a web supply and means for feeding the web through the printing mechanism, sheet cutting means closely adjacent the perfecting end of the printing mechanism and receiving the web directly therefrom, web rewinding means adjacent thereto including unwinding supports, means for moving a rewound web to unwinding position, and means for associating a plurality of rewound Webs and feeding them to said sheet cutting means, and for optionally associating a freshly printed web with them prior to cutting.

23. A printing press including in combination a traveling cylinder, side by side beds for perfecting a web, a web supply roll at one end of one of said beds, web equalizing means between the supply roll and said bed, turning means at the opposite end for turning' the web and directing it over the second bed, cutting means at the end opposite end for turning the web and directing iti over the second bed, cutting means at the end of the second bed, and means for receiving the sheets and folding them perpendicularly to the cut edges. y Y

25. A printing press including in combination a traveling cylinder, side by side beds for per- Y* fecting a web, a web supply roll at one end. of one of said beds, web equalizing means between the supply roll and said bed, turning means at the opposite end for turning the web and directing it over the second bed, cutting means at the end of the second bed, and means for receiving the sheets and folding them both perpendicularly and parallel to the cut edges.

26. A printing press including in combination two type beds side by side for perfecting a web,

a traveling impression cylinder, means for sup-V plying a web to the `first bed, means at the opposite end of the bed for turning the web and directing it to the second bed, and aweb equalizing roller over which the fresh web and the perfected web run side by side and in opposite directions.

27. A printing press including in combination two type beds side by side for perfecting a web, a traveling impression cylinder, two cylinders side by side at one end of the bed, one feeding a web to the bed and one cutting perfected sheets, means at the opposite end of the bed for turning the web and directing it parallel to itself in a reverse direction and means for folding the sheets perpendicular to the cut edges.

PAUL F. COX. 

